Olympic dream still alive for Süle & Toljan

Head coach Horst Hrubesch built his team around the two TSG men in all three games: Niklas Süle in central defence and Jeremy Toljan at full back.

SÜLE ASSIST

Germany faced off against reigning Olympic champions Mexico in their opening game. The offensive minding Germany side carved out several chances, with Süle himself just inches away from hitting the top corner.

Mexico emerged the better side after the break and took the lead when Oribe Peralta headed in after 52 minutes. It took Germany just two minutes to equalise – Serge Gnabry latching on to a superb pass from Süle. The relief from equalising didn’t last long, as Mexico re-established their lead just moments later. Borussia Dortmund’s Matthias Ginter headed in the eventual equaliser to save a point for Germany.

THRILLER AGAINST SOUTH KOREA

The second group stage match against South Korea also ended in a draw. Six goals, three apiece. Gnabry and Davie Selke put Germany in front, overturning a 1-0 deficit, but the South Korean’s dragged themselves back into the match and looked set to seal all three points. A defeat would have meant an early exit for Hrubesch’s side, but Gnabry’s injury time equaliser kept the German hopes alive, sealing a crucial point,.second of the match

DOUBLE-DIGIT WIN BOOKS QUARTERFINAL SPOT

Ahead of the final match against Fiji, Germany knew that only a win by at least five goals would be enough to guarantee a spot in the quarterfinals. Job done. TSG defenders Süle and Toljan were once again in the starting XI, as the side romped to a 10-0 victory. Neither managed to bag themselves a goal, however. SC Freiburg’s Nils Petersen scored five, FC Schalke 04’s Max Meyer bagged three and Serge Gnabry added another two to his tournament tally.

As the group’s second-placed side behind South Korea, Horst Hrubesch’s side will face Portugal in the quarterfinal on Saturday at 18:00 CEST.